Boris Johnson: I’ll stand for London Mayor again

Declaring: Boris Johnson is "toying with idea" of launching his bid tomorrow

Boris Johnson is set to run for another four years as London Mayor, the Standard can reveal today.

The Tory, tipped as a future challenger to David Cameron as leader of the party, is expected to declare for the 2012 contest in the next few weeks.

It would pit Mr Johnson in a re-run of the belligerent 2008 contest against Ken Livingstone, frontrunner for the Labour candidacy. The former mayor has already expressed hopes of a rematch in two years.

Steps are being taken to get Mr Johnson's campaign team and fund-raising operation in place.

He is understood to have recruited Australian political strategist Lynton Crosby, a key figure in the last campaign, to run his team.

Mr Johnson has previously suggested he would almost certainly stand again but has so far refused to give a firm pledge. Several sources close to the Mayor told the Standard that he had now made up his mind to go for re-election. One well-placed Tory source said: "He is planning to launch. He's definitely doing that."

A City Hall insider also confirmed the Mayor's re-election bid was imminent. A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: "The Mayor has always made it clear that he thinks this is the best job in the world and if it's all going well at a suitable point in his mayoralty he would be minded to seek the people's endorsement to run again. He has signalled in the past that he would come to that decision in the summer."

Senior sources said Mr Johnson was originally "toying with the idea" of launching his bid at tomorrow's State of London address at City Hall.

However, he is now thought to have gone cold on the idea, preferring to confirm his intentions later this summer after the launch of his pet project, the London bike hire scheme.

There was some concern at City Hall that Mr Johnson was "still not 100 per cent reconciled and confident and at ease with the idea" of running again.

However, a Tory source revealed that "Operation Re-elect Boris" was already under way.

Mr Crosby was widely credited with delivering the "doughnut" strategy in 2008, which concentrated on mobilising the Tory vote in the suburbs. It was unclear whether he would be joined by Katie Perrior and Jo Tanner, the iNHouse PR team who successfully turned around his last campaign.

"Lynton is definitely running the show. He's going to be the head honcho of the whole campaign. When he starts depends on fundraising because he doesn't come cheap," a source said said. "There are donors who have been turned off Cameron for various reasons who may swing their weight behind Boris with one eye on the future."

Mr Cameron ruled out a quick return to frontline politics for Mr Johnson during the general election campaign.

The Tory leader sought to draw a line under speculation that Mr Johnson was a rival for the party leadership when he said he was "sure" he would run again for City Hall.

Mr Johnson won 43 per cent of first preference votes last time but will face a tougher fight this time as he faces possible public anger at the Tory-led government's swingeing cuts and tax increases.

However, he still remains popular with the London electorate —many of whom view his errors as evidence of authenticity — and City Hall colleagues are confident he will deliver on the majority of his policy promises before the next polling day.

Ken Livingstone said: "Boris Johnson's record at City Hall is no laughing matter. Londoners now see a Tory mayor hitting farepayers, cutting the police, slashing tube ticket office opening hours and protecting polluters.

"Millions of Londoners face serious challenges following yesterday's budget and Boris Johnson will not and does not defend them."

Local government expert Tony Travers said: "Boris has kept his share of the council tax down, while imposing cuts and efficiencies at City Hall. Bus and Tube fares, by contrast, have been allowed to rise.

"This is a pattern George Osborne is now copying at the national level. Labour will doubtless offer higher taxes and lower fares.